Kyrie Irving Being Left Off the NBA 75 List Is One of the Worst Decisions in League History

There have been plenty of controversial decisions throughout NBA history, but leaving Kyrie Irving off the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team has to rank near the top.

Think about what that list represents. It isn't the 75 most popular players. It isn't the 75 players with the cleanest reputations. It's supposed to recognize the 75 greatest basketball players to ever step on an NBA court.

If we're talking strictly basketball, Kyrie Irving belongs on that list without question.

My definition of a Top 75 player is simple. You should be able to drop that player into any era of basketball, and they'll dominate. Whether it's the physical '80s, the defensive battles of the '90s, or today's pace-and-space game, greatness translates. Kyrie's skill set would have embarrassed defenders in every generation.

We've never seen a player quite like him.

His ball handling isn't just elite—it's arguably the greatest the game has ever seen. His ability to finish around the rim against bigger defenders borders on impossible. Left hand, right hand, off the glass, through contact, reverse layups—he has every shot in his bag. Add one of the smoothest jump shots in the league, and you've got one of the most complete offensive guards basketball has ever produced.

As someone from New Jersey, I take pride in saying Kyrie is one of our own. New Jersey has produced some incredible basketball talent, but Kyrie represents a different level. He's a once-in-a-generation player whose creativity has inspired countless young guards to model their games after him.

His résumé speaks for itself.

He is an NBA champion who helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a historic 3-1 comeback against a 73-win Golden State Warriors team. In Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, he hit what many consider the biggest shot in NBA history—a go-ahead three-pointer over Stephen Curry with less than a minute remaining.

On top of that, he's an NBA Rookie of the Year, multiple-time All-Star, All-NBA selection, All-Star Game MVP, Olympic gold medalist, FIBA World Cup champion and tournament MVP, and a member of the exclusive 50-40-90 club. Only a handful of players in NBA history have reached that level of efficiency.

So how does a résumé like that not earn a place among the NBA's 75 greatest players?

The conversation around Kyrie has often shifted away from basketball. His personal beliefs, interviews, and off-the-court controversies have dominated headlines for years.

But that's exactly the problem.

The NBA 75 list should be based on basketball, not public opinion.

You don't have to agree with everything Kyrie says or does. You're entitled to your opinion just as he's entitled to his. But if we're evaluating careers, accomplishments, and talent, those outside conversations shouldn't determine whether someone is recognized as one of the greatest players ever.

Too often, the media allows narratives to overshadow greatness. They magnify controversy while minimizing brilliance, and fans eventually begin judging careers based on headlines instead of what happened between the lines.

Years from now, when Kyrie's career is over, people will remember the championships, the highlights, the impossible finishes, the unforgettable handles, and one of the coldest shots ever made on the biggest stage. The basketball will outlive the noise.

I'm not taking anything away from the legends who made the NBA 75 list—they all deserve respect.

But if we're being honest and keeping the conversation strictly about basketball, Kyrie Irving earned his spot.

Leaving him off wasn't just controversial.

It was one of the biggest mistakes in NBA history.